Knock-down platform construction



D. H. NALLY 2,72%,866

Dec. 13, 1955 KNOCK-DOWN PLATFORM CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 18, 1953 INVENTOR wag H. NALLY ATTORNEYJ Dec. 13, 1955 D. H. NALLYKNOCK-DOWN PLATFORM CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 18, 1953 INVENTOR ATTORNEYJ Dec. 13, 1955 D. H. NALLY KNOCK-DOWN PLATFORMCONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheei 3 Filed June 18, 1953 INVENTOR mm H ALW 041g; 6; ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,726,866 KN GK-DQWN P AT ORM IRU ODuke He Nally, Am ri Application June 18, 1953, Serial No. 362,548 4Claims, (CL Z 2.-.

This invention relates to improvements in knock-down platformconstructions adaptable for use as a sports ring oras an entertainmentbandstand or speakers platform.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a knock-downconstruction primarily adaptable for use as a o in ri g e p s of whi har and arranged that with facility two, individuals can readily load,unload, set up and take down the construction in a short period of time.

It is well known in the entertainment art that boxing ring constructionsare subjected to rugged treatment. Gen orally they are either permanentinstallments or of semi.- permanent character so that installation andremoval is done w cu tv, nd then u ally w th d mag to floors and walls.Many men are necessary to install and remove such rings, which requiresa lot of time and incidental expense, with the usual loss of lumber,damaged during the setting up and taking down of the parts. It istherefore a purpose of the present invention to provide a kn d n r c nuc ion hav ng an. improved base structure for the immediate support ofthe platform whi ca e as e w i ty lo to he flo r; the same havingimproved corner poles or uprights so associated with the platformsupporting construction that the latter will be supported withstability, and in such manner that a floor can be readily assembledthereon with ease.

further O t f h s nv nti n s the provisi n of an @P comer Pole .Q p tand d con ru tion fo boxing u s f t e vbi qt f h s venti n is thprovision of a m ove at v unnu ting a ons r ct n fo boxing rings.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed descr ption.

In the accompanying drawings, forming P s! Of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several vis I Fig. l is a perspective view showing theassembled boxing ring, with portions of the flooring removed to betterobserve the details of the ring structure.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the fioor supporting structure which isof such nature as to facilitate its assemblage and disassemblage thereofwith great convenience.

Fig. 3 is a perspective exploded view of a vertical standard or postconstruction for the ring.

Fig. 4 is a perspective exploded View showing a construction by means ofwhich the platform supporting rails are connected to the corner posts,etc.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in whichstringers of the platform are assembled to the base or platformsupporting rails.

'Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through the assembledstandard or corner pole.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of the stringer and base so constructedrail connection, the view being taken substantially on the line 7:77 ofFig. 2. t

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken in a horizontal plane through oneof the corner posts and through the base rails connected therewith, theview being taken sub-. stantially at the location shown by line 88 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the floor railsupports of the corner poles.

Fig. IQ is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on theline 10710 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substan-. tially on theline 11-:11 of Fig. 7, at the connection of a stringer with a platformsupporting base rail.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only apreferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may designate theimproved knockdown ring. It may include standards or poles C forsupporting an assemblage B and the flooring D. Reinforc ingunderstructure E is provided to stabilize the position of the standardsC.

The standards or corner poles C are preferably sectional, and as shownin the drawings include a lower tubular portion having a base plate orfooting 21 welded as at 22 thereto. It includes an intermediate section23, which really forms part of the platform supporting structure B shownin Fig. 2. It is internally screw threaded at its lower end 24 forreceiving the upper screw threaded end of the lower standard section 20.The Standard construction (3 furthermore includes an upper tubularsection 25 screw threaded at its lower end 26 in the upper screwthreaded socketed end of the intermediate section 23; a positionlimiting sleeve 27 being provided in a shrunk relation thereon to enablethe accurate positioning of the section 25' with respect to the section23. The section 25 is provided with guard rope hooks 28, preferablythree in number for each section 25. For ornamental purposes a headpiece or knob 29 is screw threaded at 30% in the top of the tubularsection 25.

The entire corner pole construction is preferably of Steel or some likedurable construction and for purposes of lightness the parts are madetubular. The intermediate section 23 of each corner pole structure isprovided with an eye 30 in the form of a staple, welded at 31 to a sideof the said section 23., as shown in Fig. 6, to receive a turnbucklearrangement. This intermediate section 23 furthermore includes railattaching and supporting extensions and ledges to be subsequentlydescribed.

Forming part of the structure B are four rail or sill constructions 35,36, 37 and 38. In the main they are identically formed with theexception of certain sockets provided for stringers 39 and 40% which areattached to the rails 36 and 38.

Each of these rail constructions includes a wooden beam 42 of 2" x 8"cross section, twenty feet in length. The ends of this beam are encasedin steel channels 40 and 41. The channels 40 and 41 at their inner endsare welded to an eight foot piece of 2" x 2" steel angle 44; the flangesof which are disposed on the outside and bottom of the beam 42. Thisangle gives the supporting strength necessary to prevent buckling'of thering and breakage of the beam 42. By means of the angle the weight ofthe rails is lessened. The channels 40 and 41 at their adjacent ends arebolted as at 43 to the wooden beam 42 to secure the desired spacing.

The channels 40 and 41 are directly supported upon the standardintermediate sections 23 by means illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.The intermediate section 23 is provided with supporting ledges 59 and51, welded thereto and relatively extending in right angled relation}supporting webs 53 being provided upon the underside of the ledges 5t]and 51, welded or otherwise secured thereto and also welded to thetubular piece 23. The ledges cured in place.

and 51 are adapted to directly support the adjacent ends of two beamssupported by each pole piece 23, in the relation designated in theexploded view of Fig. 4, and as shown assembledinFig. l0. 7 i 1 The polepieces 23 are furthermore provided with rail attaching wings orextensions 55 and 56, welded thereto, and disposed laterally outwardlyfrom the supporting ledges 50 and51, in position to lie immediately atthe outer surfaces of the rail channels in abutment therewith. Thepieces 55 and 56 are transversely apertured for receiving bolts 57 bymeans ofwhich to secure the rail channels and beams in secured relationto the intermediate section 23. The assemblyis shown in Figs. 8 and 10Each corner pole or'standard has two side rails secured thereto in aresting relation thereon and in side attached relation thereto.Thus,-the rails cannot move vertically ofi the ledge or laterallytherefrom either inwardly or outwardly. .It is to be noted that thebolts are attached to metal parts of the poles and the poles directlyreceive only metal parts of the rails resting thereon. All of this willprevent any inaccuracies resulting'by reason of the damaging of the woodportions of the rails incidental to use, since there is littleopportunity of the Wooden beam portion 42 to be damaged.

In the assemblage of the floor supporting structure B, shown in Fig. 2,the rails 35, 36, 37 and 38 are individually assembled with theirchannels attached and socketed on the beam portions 42, and thereafterthe ends of the rails are disposed on the ledges 50 and 51 of the polepieces 23,; the latter being vertically rested upon a supporting floor(see Fig. 2), and the bolts 57 are then'se- It is to be noted that theintermediate sections 23 are short and this enables all of the work tobe done close to a supporting floor upon which the assembling isbeingdone. .It is obvious thatthis is a convenient and expeditious way ofassembling the structure The stringers'39 and 40 are preferably ofsingle piece wooden beam construction with the ends thereof releasablysocketed 'upon the rails 36 and 38 in the manner shown in Fig. 5. Thesestringers parallel the rails 35 and 37.

The means for supporting the stringers upon the rail structures 36 and38 is metal, consisting of angles 60 and 61 each of which includes therail attaching leg portion 63 and the right angled extension flange 64.Spacer pieces 65 are employed for the bolting, at 67, of the legs 63 tothe beam portion 42 in order to provide sockets 68 between the legs 63and the beam 42; the flange portions 64 extending in right anglerelation from the beam 42 and in. spaced relation. A stringer supportingfoot 69 is preferably bolted as at 70 to the underside of the beam 42,as shown in Fig. 11'.

Each of the stringers at 1ts ends is provided withangle and 73,including leg portions 74 which are pieces 72 7 directly bolted as at 75to the sides of the stringer, With leg portions 78 laterally'extendingfrom opposite sides of the stringer just short of flush with the ends ofthe stringer and adapted for socketing in the recesses 68. When inposition the beam rests upon'the foot or ledge 69, as shown in Fig. ll.

With this construction the stringers 39 and 40 may be quickly assembledor disassembled with respect to the rails 36 and 38. y a It is to benoted that short vertical'legs 100 are bolted at convenient distances,not only to the rails 35, 36, 37 and 38, but to the stringers 39 and 40;these legs preferably being preassembled. They aid in the support of therails during assembly and extend downwardly for the same distance as thetubular portion 23 of the corner pole structure. Thus, the rails aresupported during assemblage all at the same level upon the floor uponwhich the assembly is being accomplished.

.It will be noted, that guy rods or wires 80 and 81'are provided inconnection with the structure B, having turnbuckles 82 at the endsthereof, with books 83 by means of whichto connect the same. to the eyesof the pole sections 23. Tightening of these turnbuckles will maintainthe structure B in a very stable assemblage.

Inorder to complete the ring assemblage, the corner standard sections 20are placed at the proper location, and the operators will then socketthe sections 20 in the intermediate sections 23.

The reinforcing understructure B may include vertical supporting legs 90which may be bolted detachably to the rails 35, 36, 37 and 38 and alsothe stringers 39 and in the manner and positions shown throughout thedrawings. The supporting legs 90 for the'rails 35, 36, 37 and 38 mayfurthermore have bottom horizontal bracing 91 connected thereto at 92;the ends of the horizontal bracing 90 preferably being bolted toconnecting wings or extensions 93 which are welded as at 94 to eachstandard base piece 20, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. These pieces93 are received at the outer sides of the braces 91 and bolted theretoas by bolts 95. a 1

The flooring D may assume a variety of forms. For

a 20 foot ring there are preferably provided planks 2" by 8" in crosssection, and 20 feet long, cleated together in threes. They are thensecured as by cleats or other I means to the rails and stringers in' anyapproved manner. So much of the assemblage as has been above described,the structure may serve as a speaker stand, bandstand,

entertainment platform, or for any other purpose; When constructed as aboxing ring, the standard upper sections 25 are screw threaded to theintermediate sections 23 and the guard ropes 97 are secured by the usualturn-. buckle arrangements 98 to the corner pole section hooks 28. a

From the foregoing description of the invention it is apparent that aknock-down ring construction has been provided, the parts of which areof such nature as not 7 to be unwieldy or heavy.- Two 'men can'completely assemble the entire structure without other assistance,

for a 20 foot ring, and the parts may be loaded or' unloaded withfacility by the same two man team. The parts of the ring structure whichreceive strain and constant contact, as a result of assembly anddisassembly, are metal surfaced for protection, and the pedestal feet 21are sufliciently broad to enable the ring to stand upon a floor withoutbeing nailed, cleated or otherwise bolted thereto.

This is a distinct advantage, since thereby the ring structure will notharm hardwood floors and the like. Merely by way of example, no onepiece of a ring constructed as above described weighs more than 135pounds, although it is well known in the art that ring constructionsordinarily weigh in the neighborhood of 3000 pounds.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be madeto the form of invention herein shown and described without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

. connected to said stringers for supporting the same in-.'

I claim:

1. In a knock-down boxing ring construction the combination of verticalcorner posts each comprising a relatively detachably connected base,intermediate and'top portions, floor supporting rails having means; fordetachab le connection with the intermediate post portions, said railshaving short supporting leg portions thereon the' bottoms of which arepositioned substantially flush with the bottom edges of the intermediatepost portionsto which said rails are directly connected, stringers,,means to detachably connect the stringers to opposed floor sup portingrails, tensioned guys connected, diagonally between diagonally opposedintermediate ,post portions, lower horizontal reinforcing railshavingmeans for detachable connection ofthe same to the ,base' portionsof the posts, vertical supporting legs between said posts detachablyconnected to said floor rails and the lower reinforcing rails,-andvertical supporting legs detachably tel-mediate their ends.

2. In a knock-down boxing construction the combination of verticalsupporting corner standards, and floor supporting beams connectedbetween said corner standards each including steel channel piecesdirectly connected to the corner standards and extending towards eachother with their inner ends in spaced relation, a wooden beam having itsends socketed in said channels and being connected to said channels andconnecting said channels together, and an angle piece of metal welded atits ends to the inner ends of said channels to connect said channelstogether, said angle piece including one flange resting beneath saidwooden beam and a flange at the outer side of said wooden beam.

3. A knock-down structure as defined in claim 2 wherein short supportinglegs are connected to said beams at locations between the corner posts,the lower edges of which lie flushed with the lower supporting edges ofthe short post portions first mentioned.

4. In a knock-down boxing ring construction the combination of elongatedvertical corner posts, each including an elongated lower portion, anelongated intermediate portion and an elongated upper portion, all ofthe same being in vertical alignment and detachably connected together,a boxing ring beam and flooring construction,

means to detachably connect said boxing ring beam and flooringconstruction to the intermediate post portions at a location between theupper and lower ends of said intermediate post portions, short legsconnected to the beam construction at locations between the corner poststhe lower edges of which lie flush with the lower edges of theintermediate corner post portions, and detachable longer legs connectedto the beam construction at locations between the corner posts, thelower edges of said longer legs lying substantially flush with the lowersupporting surfaces of the lower corner post portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS765,382 Fleming July 19, 1904 1,477,232 Aid Dec. 11, 1923 1,753,328Barnes Apr. 8, 1930 2,119,327 Gunnarson May 31, 1938 2,200,159 Davis May7, 1940 2,267,865 Hurley Dec. 30, 1941 2,462,429 Sachs Feb. 22, 1949

